In the Beginning . . .

The Southwest corner of 70th Street and South Park

Avenue (now Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive) has
housed a Congregational church since 1891.

In 1950, the church members began facing the

challenge of a racially changing neighborhood as
African-Americans began moving in – amid conflict.
 In the Beginning . . .

In September, 1952, negotiations began by the

former Park Manor Congregational Church with the
Chicago City Missionary Society (now the Community
Renewal Society) to transfer or sell the building to a
new group within the same Congregational Christian
fellowship.
 In the Beginning . . .

In January, 1953, a planning and advisory committee

was formed consisting of representatives of the
Lincoln Memorial Congregational
The Church of The Good Shepherd Congregational
The Mission Society
Chicago Theological Seminary
Park Manor Congregational Church
National Board of Home Missions (now the U.C.C.
Board of Homeland Ministries).
 In the Beginning . . .
In February, 1953,
as a result of canvassing residents of the Park
Manor area by sixty members of The Church of The
Good Shepherd Congregational and Lincoln
Memorial Congregational Churches,
the foundation was laid
for the organization of
The Congregational Church of Park Manor.
 In the Beginning . . .

On April 10, 1953, the new church was staffed:

the Reverend Mr. John R. Schwenke,
Organizing and Interim Pastor,
Catherine Adams, Choir Director;
Jane Molden, Director of Christian Education;
and Rachel Ferrill, Parish Visitor.
 In the Beginning . . .

On May 7, 1953, the first organization meeting was

held; a Charter Member List was set up
and seventeen people signed.
 In the Beginning . . .
At the second organizational meeting on May 21,
1953, sixty persons attended and voted to
establish three committees to work on:
a Statement of Faith and Policy,
Construction
and Nominations for the first officers.

On August 9, 1953, one-hundred and forty-two

Charter Members were taken in, board and officers
were elected.
 In the Beginning . . .
On May 3, 1954,
The Park Manor Congregational Church
held its first service at 7000 South Park Avenue
(now Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive)
 The Pastors . . .

Reverend Dr. William J. Faulkner

(April 10, 1953 – October 25, 1953) –
Became Senior Pastor after 20 years as Dean of chapel at Fisk
University.
 The Pastors . . .

Reverend Dr. Arthur D. Gray

(September 2, 1962 – June 15, 1962) –
Became Senior Pastor after serving as President of Talladega Co
The Pastors . . .

Reverend Dr. James H. Hargett

(May 1977 – August, 1986) –
An innovator and civil right movement participant,
elected the third minister.
 The Pastors . . .

Reverend Dr. Reuben A. Shears, II (June 1, 1988 – July 11,

1992) - After 15 years as Director, Office of Church Life and
Leadership, United Church of Christ, came to The Congregational
church of Park Manor and served the congregational until his
death.
 The Pastors . . .

Reverend Dr. Luther Holland, Jr. (September 1, 1995 – Present)

- The current Senior Pastor and Teacher came to The
Congregational Church of Park Manor after his service as Chicago
Metropolitan Association Minister and Ohio Conference Minister for
Church in the World.
 The Associate, Assistant, and
Student Ministers

The church has nurtured nine (12) student ministers, eight of whom
have gone on to successful careers in the ministry:

Reverend Dr. Kenneth Smith, Reverend Mr. Elmore Giles, Reverend

Mr. Jimmie Sawyer, Reverend Mr. Ronald Roberts, Reverend Mr.
Stephen Camp, Reverend Mr. Lilton Marks,, Reverend Dr. Brenda
Ahgahowa, Reverend Dr. Erwin France (deceased), Reverend Mr.
James E. Fouther, Jr. and Reverend Miss Leslie R. Dowdell, Dr. Oscar
Vanadoe, III, Minister Joseph Ragland and Minister Janice Spraggins.
 The Interim Ministers

The Reverend Mr. John R. Schwenke of the Chicago City

Missionary Society, served as the Organizing Interim Minister from
April 10, 1953 until October 25, 1953.

The Reverend Dr. George Polk, Pastoral Counselor at Bethany

Hospital, served as Interim Minister from August 18, 1986 until
June 1, 1988.

The Reverend Mr. George Thomas, former Pastor of First

Congregational Church of Atlanta served as Interim Minister from
March 21, 1993 until August 31, 1995.